The Pond Inside the Forest [Private]

After getting his new sword Jaden lead Aiko to a secret spot he had found as a kid. Jaden knew this would be a great spot to do a nice and easy training session instead of anything to hard. Jaden walked out into a large opening in the forest yet for some reason it seemed as though the branches of the trees were reaching out to touch something. At first glance it would seem weird to have such an opening in the forest, but as Jaden continued to walk out closer to the opening you could hear slight steps on what it would seem to be puddles. Puddles were not uncommon in Kirigakure for the fact there was always a mist flowing around the village. Jaden would place his hand out signaling to have Aiko wait before she continues. Jaden would squat down closer to the ground waving away the extremely thick fog flowing around his feet almost up to his ankles. Jaden then begun to wave his hand into the fog waving it away revealing the crystal clear water underneath. Jaden looked up to Aiko saying to her, “See this is why I had you to stop, the mist grows thicker here for the fact of the water being cooler than the air around it.” Jaden would place his hand into the water slightly shivering from the coolness of the water. “It is strange the water is almost as cold as ice, but how the trees are growing stretching out over the entire area it would seem.” Jaden would say as he stud up straight like a good soldier, he would then appear to be lightly slinging off the water from his hand. Jaden would then continue to say to Aiko, “It is just amazing here I found this place as a kid accidentally running and falling into the water.” Jaden would sigh a little after revealing a little about his past and finish saying to her, “Be careful when you walk out on to the water it is just a giant drop off almost seeming bottomless. I have tried to swim to the bottom, but have never been able to. When you look into the water you can see that it continues on until it turns pitch black.” Jaden would freeze for a moment looking at Aiko saying quickly to her, “Okay the water begins about a foot in front of you and then it is only goes down about a 6 inches then drops off completely about a foot in.” Jaden would then signal to Aiko to come on over now that she knew what was going on. Jaden would wait there holding his hand out like a gentleman waiting for her reply and to show here something he only knew about this specific area.

[Entrance Post]

Once the two had left the item shop, Aiko began to feel a weird feeling around her but shrugged it off, as she followed Jaden. Jaden lead Aiko through an area she didn't recognize, and to make things worse it was somewhere in the forest. Not wanting to feel scared Aiko stayed very close to Jaden, hoping this wouldn't lead them into any enemies. Her blue eyes scanned the area lightly, and relaxed when she didn’t see anything as she looked around. She saw the tree branches and the moist dew on some branches fall slowly, some of the dew drops crystallized as they became ice. Aiko didn’t mind what she saw as she continued to follow Jaden closely, since she was unfamiliar to the area they were currently in. Truth be told Aiko didn’t even know this area existed in the forest, the forest she usually went to as a child.

The deeper the two went the more Aiko could hear the change in sound; their footsteps became mushier with a squeaky sound resounding from stepping into something. Looking around Aiko suppressed a giggle for some reason knowing they were probably stepping on puddles. Before she could ask anything Aiko saw Jaden signal for her to stop with his hand, and she nodded as she took a step back. “What is it?” she asked Jaden as he squatted down to observe something. Tilting her head to the left Aiko wondered what he was looking at as she watched his back, waiting for an answer. She didn’t have to wait long as Jaden spoke and explained as she saw a small puddle of water; it was a clear blue shade.

When Aiko gazed at the clear water she smiled, just the view of the calm clear water made her feel safe, her earlier worries were now gone. Aiko felt the water around her, even the mist that surrounded the two right now felt safe as it called out to her, like if it wanted to hug her.

When Jaden turned around to speak to Yuji she looked at him. He explained why he had signaled for Aiko to stop where she was and show her the damp water on the ground. It seemed that they were puddles or rather it was a pond like area, one that Aiko seemed to like. As Jaden placed his hand in the water, he told Aiko that the water was nearly as cold as ice, which caught her off guard as she hoped it wasn’t because of her trait. Beginning to feel nervous Aiko nearly closed her eyes in fear of being caught, but what stopped her was the familiar cold and gentle feeling rubbing her neck, as she watched Jaden stand up. He began to tell her about how he found his place, Aiko began to fidget lightly when she heard Jaden speak about his past, or rather how he had learned of this area. Aiko sighed sadly knowing she couldn’t tell him or anyone of her origin, knowing that her clan was thought to have been obliterated once again.

Her thoughts were broken when Jaden told her that from where they stood the water would get deeper if they continued to walk. "Eh!?" Aiko replied as she looked around her. Remembering she had the chance to learn to walk on water as a child, but decided against it when her brother had promised to teach her.Shaking her head Aiko tried to forget that memory as she looked at Jaden, who signaled her to come closer to him. With a slight smile and a nod, Aiko did so, as she took his hand hesitantly. "How far will we go?" Aiko asked Jaden as she felt her feet begin to sink a little.

[Entrance]

Jaden noticed Aiko’s difficulty with water walking and realized he would need to help her out and train her better on it. He was very surprised though, most people of the village new how to water walk since the entire place is surrounded by water. Either way Jaden was ready to help his teammate out. Jaden would hold her up a bit better taking her hand and positioning himself so that he can place his other hand on her waist to give her more support. It would almost seem as though Jaden was about to teach her to dance holding her in such a way ready to lead. Jaden then looked into her eyes as he would say, “Okay just stay calm we won’t go out very far just yet, I can see you don’t quiet got the hang of water walking yet.” Jaden would sigh lightly under his breathe has he would begin to explain how water walking worked. “Now with water walking it is a lot more difficult with tree climbing for the fact water is in constant motion and continuously changes.’ Jaden would say to the girl as he would begin to look down. “See the water every step we take we make the water change so with every step we have to have the chakra in our feet flow with the water as if they were one. That is how we are able to do this in the first place.” Jaden looked back up at Aiko saying to her, “Okay now I want you to close your eyes and really feel the water, feel how it is moving so that you can match your chakra into your feet making so you can walk.” Jaden would wait for a moment as he would close and concentrate as well focusing his chakra so that it would be in perfect rhythm with the water. As he did he could tell using this ability got easier almost as if he wasn’t using any chakra at all. While waiting Jaden would just wait and listen to see how Aiko would do on her own with just his support for assistance.

Aiko nearly panicked when she discovered she couldn't really walk on water, but she couldn't help it. She had been promised by her brother, that he would teach her to walk on water, of course it couldn't be helped now. She felt a tinge of sadness as she gripped Jaden's hand tighter as her fear returned to her. When she felt Jaden's hand on her waist she blushed slightly as she felt the familiar water inching towards Jaden. He didn't even seem to notice it was headed towards him as Aiko closed her eyes shut and concentrated hard. She didn't want to be caught just yet, as she called the water back to hide behind her neck. As Jaden gave her support Aiko began to relax when she heard him speak, and explained that they wouldn't be going to far in the water just yet.

Aiko nodded as she looked at the water and continued to hear the explanation he gave her. Just looking at the water made Aiko relax as she took a deep breathe and calmed down. She watched the change in water but knew that the water was tranquil and very patient, the more she gazed at it. She didn't even notice that Jaden was looking at her as he told her to close her eyes and relax. As she did so, she saw nothing but blackness with her eyes closed. Yet she relaxed as Aiko heard the water, the calm soothing movements of the water below her feet. It was as if she had to relax to understand what Jaden was talking about as she felt her chakra slowly go down to her feet.

As the chakra went to her feet Aiko felt the need to run around the clear water, she felt at home as she opened her eyes and listened to her surroundings. "...Takuya.." Aiko mumbled as the water moved a little as it rested on her left shoulder. It seemed as if it wanted to tell her she was doing good and to be careful. Smiling lightly Aiko wondered if she could try walking on her own, if she fell in it wouldn't be any good. Aiko tightened her hold on Jaden's hand as this thought went into her mind. She began to relax, as the sound of the clear water entered her ears.

Jaden could feel her grip his hand tighter as she began to sink down in, but Jaden did not worry knowing that Aiko could do it just needed some practice. As Jaden explained how to do it and held her up by the waist Aiko seemed to finally relax and begin to do it on her own. Aiko nodded in understanding as Jaden continued to explain and as she took in a deep breathe she seemed to fully relax starting to improve on her use of the water walk. Aiko muttered something to herself and all the sudden she would begin to tense up once again and Jaden was worried she would loose her concentration. All the sudden though she gripped Jaden’s hand once again calming herself down regaining full concentration.

Jaden looked at her and said, “Okay we are going to start moving around a bit, just stay calm and feel the water around you and you will be fine.” Jaden would then begin to start leading her as if he was leading Aiko in a dance on the water. Jaden nodded to that she was doing fine and that she should try to do it on her own, so he would let her go on her own. Jaden would watch her as she would then continue to go off on her own.

Aiko felt worried as Jaden told her they would begin moving around, it worried her as the water on her shoulder move to rub her neck again. It made her relax even more as she giggled lightly and nodded to what Jaden had instructed her. She felt nothing, as if she wasn't using her chakra, which for her was odd. She would have been worried but she gazed at the water around her and was able to calm down enough so her emotions wouldn't interfere. This made Aiko content as Jaden led her further into the water. They both walked slowly, normally Aiko would try to relax and not be able to but for some reason she was at ease more than usual. Confusion would have entered her mind if she was alone, but right now she needed to concentrate, and that was exactly what she was doing as she felt the water rubbing her neck. It was beginning to get warmer, that is until Jaden let her go.

When Jaden let Aiko go and let her try walking on water alone, she was scared to be truthful but it quickly left her mind as she felt the cold and gentle rubbing on her neck. "Takuya-niisan" Aiko mumbled as she walked, feeling her brother around her. Each step she took she took it slowly as she looked at the water around her.

As Aiko walked she didn't notice the water that she had with her began to show itself slowly, to anyone watching it seemed that the water had just fallen out of a tree. Landing in the pond Aiko was oblivious to it as it fell into the pond and moved beneath her, it was as if it was getting ready to catch her if she fell. Aiko continued to walk slowly.

Jaden would watch as Aiko walked on her own doing very well water walking. As he watched it would appear that a drop of water would fall from the treetops landing near her. Jaden wasn’t sure if that would make her on edge, but as it appeared she was doing just fine. Jaden would then look on as he thought now would be a good time to start training the water element. Jaden could tell easily that more than likely Aiko had an affinity to the element and Jaden knew that he did have the affinity to it from training at the academy. Jaden would walk out deeper into the water saying to Aiko, “Okay follow me, we are going deeper out on to the water. I think now would be a good time to train the water element since everyone in this village as a Shinobi trains the element." Jaden thought it would be best to learn how. Now from what Jaden had learned you must learn how to control water with ones own chakra first then you go on from there.

So once Jaden moved out towards the center of the pond he would squat down once again placing his hands into the icy cold water. Jaden would close his eyes feeling the water feeling it move around his hands flowing constantly never truly stopping. Jaden would then begin to flow his chakra down into the water starting the first part of nature transformation. Jaden would inter mix his chakra with the water making it slightly moving making ripples in the water as he keep his hands in the water. Jaden could feel the movement of the water as he focused more of his chakra into feeling his chakra slowly change with every moment he keep his hands in the water. Jaden would then slowly rise up manipulating the water as he did making the water rise above the thick layer of mist showing he had learned to inner fuse his chakra with the already existing water. After rising a little to quickly Jaden broke his concentration and broke his connection he had with the water having what water he did bring up just splash back down.

Jaden would open his eyes looking at his mistake then looking towards Aiko saying, “Shoot I almost had it; here why don’t we try this together this time.” Jaden would then stand there and wait for Aiko to come over so they could work on this together as a team.

Aiko kept walking on the water, at first it had been hesitation that held her back, but as she continued to walk she felt calmer. She took faster steps and felt more confident in walking on water as she continued. The water of course was right behind her ready to jump out and engulf her to protect Aiko if it was needed. She continued to walk until she heard Jaden speak, as she stopped to see him walking deeper into the water’s surface.

As he spoke Aiko nodded and walked towards him, she should have lost her concentration but she was perfectly calm. She wasn't even sure why she wasn't paying attention to the chakra she was using but it seemed to her she didn't need too much or none at all. It was strange for Aiko as she walked towards Jaden when he suggested they work on the water element. It was one that Aiko had always practiced when she could. She had done so when she was with the Mizukage this morning, and when he was teaching her to walk on water.

Aiko wasn't about to tell him that though, because she still needed a lot of training and practice with water. The water that she now carried at times would go out of control, and that was something she couldn't afford at all especially if it meant getting caught. Aiko began to feel a slight amount of chakra being used as she walked towards Jaden.

As she approached him, Aiko could tell they were in the middle of the pond, and she wasn't sure if that was a good idea of not. Watching Jaden squat down at the middle of the pond Aiko wondered what he would do, as he placed his hand in the water. It didn't seem too special from where Aiko was as she got closer and saw what he was really doing. She could see him close his eyes and concentrate on the ice cold water. Of course Aiko believed that the cold ice would also be a factor of distraction if someone wasn't used to it.

Watching closely Aiko saw what Jaden was doing, she stopped in her tracks. She didn't want him to lose focus as she waited to see what happened next. It didn't take long to see that Jaden had messed up but then again, so would Aiko. As Jaden looked at Aiko and talked Aiko nodded and smiled lightly as she approached the middle of the pond as well. Once she was near Jaden she concentrated hard as she placed her hand a few inches above the water. Both were unsuspecting what happened next, as Aiko concentrated for a few moments she felt the connection with the water and with her chakra begin. Though what the two didn't expect was the water that always seemed to protect Aiko suddenly burst out of the ponds water right in front of the two. Aiko stood up immediately startled as she almost sank into the cold water but was able to compose herself. Until the water that was now even colder than before touched her neck causing her to shiver, "kyaa! Takuya-nii!" Aiko screamed as she tried to concentrate her chakra to stay on the water’s surface.

The water itself seemed to be scolding Aiko for something as it seemed to be rubbing her skin and getting her attention. It kept going around her as Aiko looked at it and wondered why it was going out of control with her. She pouted slightly as she caught on what it was trying to tell her. Her blue eyes widened in shock, and she felt her heart accelerate. There where Aiko's hand had been was a small ice crystal or rather a small, clear spot of ice. The water had gotten her attention and wanted her to know what it did as it had burst out through the water. She hoped Jaden wouldn't figure out what it had done, but it was more than likely visible now. "oh no." Aiko whispered lightly.

The water itself then moved away from Aiko and towards Jaden trying to get his attention away from what was there. Aiko wasn't sure what to do now, she tried to stay calm and positive about it but there was no way she could. She tried to understand why the water had created that small spot of ice, was it to warn her or was it to get her away from Jaden? She wasn't quite sure.

The water itself showed great dislike at Jaden as it seemed to not want to get close to Jaden but would easily get his attention.

Jaden watched as Akio approached and began to do the same as him, but she had just placed her hands above the water instead of inside the water like he had done. All the sudden as Aiko seemed to start concentrating water just burst through the surface of the calm water making the mist disperse from that area almost as if it had great momentum behind it. Jaden was highly impressed Aiko had such capabilities already, as he watched on as Aiko would shoot right up almost seemed startled from her own capabilities. Jaden not sure what was going on noticed that Aiko was loosing composer on the water and of fear of her falling in Jaden moved over to her as quickly as possible. In mid process of moving in closer Jaden would not notice her gain her composer back and as the water came out of the pond ran across Aiko’s neck causing her to scream out some thing. With that Aiko would appear to control the water having it move around her with total ease.

As Jaden’s eyes began to focus on the water it seemed as though Aiko made the water move towards Jaden swirling around him as it was doing around her. Jaden was extremely impressed by this he didn’t expect for Aiko to have so much control over the water. Jaden would try to move forward, but the water seemed to not let him move towards Aiko. Jaden began to get frustrated from this and said to Aiko, “Could you please stop the water now it is beginning to bug me.” As the water continued to spin around him he just got more upset and decided to try and stop this. Jaden now felt Aiko was just showing off and not trying to work as a team.

Jaden would close his eyes and begin to focus his chakra all over his body instead of just in his hands as he did before. All the sudden the water around him would begin to swirl as if enter acting with his frustration. This was a side to Jaden not many would seem, but he didn’t want this to continue any longer. The water would swirl faster and faster in a circle around Jaden starting to cause slight wakes in the water making white caps form around where the water was swirling. Jaden would focus his chakra more making it into water itself it would seem making almost a perfect manipulation of shape transformation and nature transformation. Jaden would pull his arms in as if condensing his very own chakra and then the water would swirl faster as it began to rise up to his knees. Jaden’s focus increased as the water Aiko had would just continue to swirl around him adding on to his frustration.

Jaden’s frustration would then turn to anger as the water Aiko was using swirled faster around him and as it did Jaden would thrust his arms out yelling out, “STOP!!” As he did the water would just burst out from below causing almost a cyclone of water to burst out in all directions forcing the water of Aiko’s to be forced away from him. Jaden not seeing through clear eyes would not pay attention to how close Aiko was to him. The water would force out towards Aiko as if attacking her, Jaden had no Idea he had so much power to his abilities with water. The water would continue to come Aiko seeming as though nothing would stop it. There was no time for Jaden to react to it, so it would seem Aiko would just be hit by a light cyclone of water that Jaden had accidentally made to stop the water that was swirling around him in the first place.

Aiko was still lost in thought when she heard Jaden tell her to stop the water from bugging him. Of course Aiko could do nothing because right now it had a will of its own and it didn't want Jaden near her. She knew that much but looked at Jaden with an apologetic smile, "I can't" she mumbled as it continued to bug him.

She could only watch as it continued to swirl around him, this was one of those times that it got out of her control. She had stopped it twice before it had gotten out of hand but this time it wouldn't listen as Aiko tried concentrate. She was able to see the anger and frustration Jaden now felt as she felt his chakra be tainted. Aiko began to feel worried and scared, and what she witnessed next scared her.

The water in the pond suddenly burst up and beginning to move out of its surface. Aiko began to get worried as she took three steps back fearing what would happen now. The fear Aiko began to feel was getting worse as the water that protected her began to move faster and it seemed to make Jaden angrier, she could easily tell by the water's movements. The water that willed and moved as Jaden's Chakra directed it. Her blue eyes were beginning to feel the dread and fear she had so many years back. She hoped that this would stop soon as she felt the memories slip out and playback in her mind. She had failed to notice the water that was already up to Jaden's knees as it was encasing him in a watery barrier, as her mind played back the night she and her brother ran into the forest. Her eyes became cloudy once again like before as she relived her past.

The water that had been swirling Jaden, noticed that there was water circling him and that it would be out of control as it left his side. It was right when a small cyclone of water began circling Jaden and continued to grow with his chakra until it left Jaden's side, as it somehow became aimed at Aiko. It would quickly get to Aiko knowing she wasn't stable and reliving the past, the past that had created it in the first place. Yet before it was able to get close to Aiko,"Aiko!" A voice called as she screamed, "NOOO!!" The water itself knew what was going on as it went under the water, feeling Aiko's chakra and its own. Before the cyclone could even hit Aiko a wall of ice rapidly grew from the water’s surface. Encasing Aiko in a protective ice barrier, one that froze anything that came into contact with it.. The water itself was unharmed as it tried to calm Aiko and snap her out of the past. Hearing her brother's voice snapped Aiko out of her past memories and into the reality she was in now.

Tears streamed down Aiko's face as she realized what she had released done, she had released her ice her kekkei genkai. She didn't want to remember her past nor did she want to use her ice unless necessary but the water that protected her and her brother’s voice had broken out of her trance. She hated having weaknesses but this was one she couldn't let go or stop knowing it was her own fault. She was too naive to understand things back then and it seemed that she still was. Her blue eyes that were filled with tears looked around her, where she sat was ice. Aiko had momentarily forgotten of Jaden as she cried, letting out the emotions that she had given out when the Mizukage had tried to reason with her and in turn she released her ice on her as well. Of course the Mizukage wasn’t mad at her even after Aiko had fainted back then, but now it was different, she didn’t even realize what she had done until she heard his voice.

“Takuya-nii.. Takuya-nii.. *sniff*… forgive me…*sniff* Takuya-nii..” Aiko cried as her tears continued to flow; she had exposed herself and did the same thing she had long ago. She didn’t want to let these emotions out knowing how painful the past was to her.

Once Jaden realized what he was doing it was to late all he could here was Aiko yelling out. Jaden couldn’t believe he lost control like that; it wasn’t in his nature to do anything like that. Either way though Jaden knew he had to do something, but as he was able to react his light cyclone of water was partially frozen in its tracks. His cyclone was easily broken up by the ice, freezing a large portion of it in the process. Jaden just looked on in Aiko’s direction seeing this amazing site; over half of his cyclone was frozen in its tracks while the other portion of it was dispersed because the other portion was frozen almost instantaneously. Jaden couldn’t believe it he had never seen anyone capable of doing such things, but he had heard of a clan that had a certain Kekkei Genkai. But Jaden couldn’t believe it either way the clan had been either killed off or dispersed. He would have never of thought that there would be some one from the clan still living here.

Jaden would slowly approach seeing that even the water around the cyclone was frozen in solid ice. Jaden only knew a little about the clan so he wasn’t sure if he got any closer if it would freeze anymore of the area. Jaden begun to hear Aiko cry and with that Jaden through caution to the wind worried about his new teammate. Jaden began knocking on the ice yelling to Aiko, “Aiko! Aiko! Are you okay?!" Jaden was truly worried about her not sure if he may have hurt her or if she was injured. Jaden made a choice if she would not answer then he would use his new sword to break apart the ice no matter how long it may take him to do so. So Jaden keep yelling out to Aiko trying to get an answer. Jaden would wait for a moment to get an answer before he would draw his sword and make his own way through the ice.

Aiko continued to cry and didn't hear what was going around her. The barrier around Aiko wasn't too thick but her mind wandered of what she had done in the past, and Jaden's cries went unheard. She kept believing that if she hadn't released her kekkai genkai back then her brother would probably still be alive. She truly missed her brother as her tears kept falling at the memory of what had happened in the forest a few years back.

Her attention was caught when she heard a familiar voice that caused her to gasp in surprise. "Aiko are you okay? You are not hurt are you?" the voice said as Aiko's head snapped up as she looked at her surroundings. She saw nothing around her and sniffled as she dried her tears. "It couldn't be Takuya-nii" Aiko said feeling new tears well up in her eyes, as she lowered her head. "I couldn't be what sis?" Takuya's voice rang near her. Quickly looking up Aiko's blue eyes widened with shock, surprise, relief, and happiness at what she saw. She saw her brother Takuya standing in front of her with his back to her as if protecting her. Aiko felt like running but she saw her brother hold a hand out signaling for her to stay where she was.

Takuya turned around and smiled at Aiko, "Looks like you are okay sis. Don't forget I will always be with you, you are not alone sis. Don't forget I love you and so does mom and dad." Aiko couldn't believe her brother's words and her disbelief at actually seeing him. Smiling lightly Aiko was about to run to her brother Takuya when he looked at her, "I'll see you again soon sis." Confusion filled Aiko and before she could ask her brother what he meant, she heard the ice around her crack. Turning her head to the left and then back to where her brother was she didn't see him any longer. "Takuya-nii? Takuya-nii!!" Aiko yelled as the ice began to either melt away or shatters itself.

Aiko felt her heart sink as her brother was now gone again. She wasn't sure if what she had seen was an illusion or not but his voice was his normal voice. The voice Aiko remembered growing up, there had been a little hint of sadness in his voice but worry and relief were what she heard the most. He looked older too, if he was still alive that would have probably been how he would have looked. Placing a hand to her mouth Aiko tried to hold in her pain and cries as she just let her tears out, knowing she wished her brother was here. His words rang in her mind knowing that her brother was still with her to protect her. Looking up above at the trees and mist Aiko could see small specks of dew fall, just like her tears were falling.

Aiko hadn't even noticed that Jaden was near at all, as she looked up and cried. She wasn't worried about what would happen now that she had been discovered. She had blown her cover and ended up using her kekkai genkai but of course Aiko's mind was in what she had seen. The mere fact that she had seen her brother stirred her being and her emotions more than ever before. Not even remembering the past memories did her heart and tears hurt too much as to feel her heart about to burst with sadness and remorse.

The water watched Aiko sadly as it tried to once again take form but it didn't have enough chakra to do so. As it floated near Aiko it wanted nothing better but to see her smiling and calm self back. When Aiko cried it felt sad and wanted to do something to comfort her as it went closer to Aiko trying to rub her neck as if it had a hand. The water wondered if the boy could help Aiko feel better in the current state she was now.

Jaden watch as the ice would slightly crack all of the sudden and then in like an instance the ice would shatter into a million pieces as if seeing a mirror shatter on the ground. It was strange as he watched each piece fall and turn back to water making ripples form all over the water. Jaden could hear the faint echo of Aiko yelling out the moment the ice shattered as if that is what set off the ice shattering in the first place. Jaden then saw Aiko in the mitts of the ice after it had shattered all around her, she was sitting there on top of the water and ice just crying. Jaden was worried he might have injured her from his use of the water, but he believed that she had protected herself from it with the ice itself. Jaden then watched, as Aiko would cover her mouth as if she was trying to hold in her voice as she just continued to cry. As she continued to cry she would look up into the canopy of the trees as it would seem and like rain drops water from the trees would fall down as if the forest was crying along with her.

Jaden would just stand there unsure what to do he had no idea how to console a person while they were upset. Jaden never really knew many people he was a bit of a loner and didn’t show much emotion himself. Jaden would walk over to Aiko saying to her, “Aiko are you okay? Please calm down every is fine, you are safe.” Jaden would look down to her as she continued to look up and with an open mind and heart Jaden would hold out his hand to Aiko as if trying to help her up and to help her with her problem. Jaden would then smile at Aiko trying to make her feel better through his lack of fully showing emotions.

Aiko continued to cry as her face was covered by dry and warm tears that she had shed after seeing her brother. Her heart was still unsteady, and hadn't heard Jaden walk up to her at all as she continued to look up at the watery dew fall. Her own tears seemed to fall with them slowly and quietly as if they understood her worries.

As Aiko continued to look up she didn't hear Jaden or see him extend his hand as she only thought of her brother. Seeing her brother confused her and her emotions as she continued to cry. She still had her mouth covering her voice to yell forgiveness to her brother and for him to come back to her. It wasn't until Aiko saw a small light of moonlight that shined through the trees that caught Aiko's eyes. Looking down her eyes widened in shock as she saw the silhouette similar to that of her older brother. When Aiko saw him smile Aiko stood up and practically jumped into his arms to hug him, without realizing it was actually Jaden she was hugging. "Takuya-nii" Aiko said as she buried her head into his chest crying and mumbling 'sorry' for a while. She hadn't even realized that the chest she had herself buried in was the team mate that had started her breakdown.

The water watched Aiko cry in that boy’s chest for a while before it approached the two wanting to console the crying black haired girl. After a few minutes had passed with her crying into his chest, the water came closer to rub Aiko's neck and calm her down. It had known that Aiko had liked to have her neck rubbed to calm her down as her brother had done for her as a child.

As it rubbed Aiko's neck, Aiko began to relax and stop crying as she looked up at whose chest she had been crying. Looking up her puffy eyes came to see familiar eyes but they weren't of her brother's they were Jaden's eyes. Feeling her heart shatter rather than being consoled Aiko's eyes were once again being filled with tears of pain, sorrow, and abandonment. "sorry.. Sorry...” Aiko said as she buried her face into Jaden's chest again.

Aiko wasn't sure what had possessed her to hug Jaden or even cry in his arms to begin with but she needed someone to hold her and the only person that had done so in the past was now gone from this world. She hadn't been held growing up since her foster family feared that she would release her kekkai genkai if they did when she was in a fragile state. Even now no one would hug her at all but this time Aiko had taken the initiative as she let her tears fall soaking Jaden's shirt as she cried and the water once again rubbed her neck to try to calm her down.

Jaden watched as Aiko would look up at him while he smiled at her, but instead of taking his hand like he was expecting Aiko jumped up into his arms hugging him time saying as she hugged him “Takuya-nii.” Jaden wasn’t sure why she was doing this or why she called him a different name; he was just completely confused about the current situation. Jaden just stood there with his arms out not sure what to do as Aiko began to cry into his chest saying that she was sorry. Aiko would continue to do this for a bit and as she continued Jaden would just look down at her not paying any attention to anything else at the time.

As Jaden looked at her not watching as the water that was messing with him before moved up Aiko beginning to rub her neck trying to console her. As it would rub her neck Aiko calmed down starting to slow her crying. Once Aiko finally stopped crying she would look up at Jaden looking into his eyes realizing it was not whom she thought it was. At that moment with Jaden’s eyes connecting with Aiko’s he could see her pain and her feelings. With that Jaden’s normal cold manner would merely melt away revealing a side of him that normally was never shown. Aiko’s eyes would fill up with tears once again looking as though she was feeling as though she had lost who she thought she had found.

Just moments after her eyes began to tear up Aiko would bury her face into Jaden’s chest once again saying to him that she was sorry over and over again. With that Jaden just wrapped his arms around her holding her close as if she was his own sister trying to help her in this time of need. Jaden would rub her back, as he would say to her, “Don’t worry Aiko it is fine, let it out take your time.” Jaden just continued to rub her back letting her tears fill his shirt, as he continued to try and console her. Jaden had never showed this side of him to anyone before; he was just an orphan boy so he didn’t have any family. This was not familiar to him, but in some way felt right to try and help her. So as Jaden rubbed her back more he would ask Aiko, “What is wrong if I may ask? Did something happen while you were in the ice or did I scare you when I got angry?” Jaden was worried for her as though she was his younger sister that was scared by something. Jaden just waited letting her get it all out calmly waiting for a reply from her to learn what was wrong so that he may be able to fix it.

Continuing to cry in Jaden's arms Aiko tried to let her emotions out, especially that off her loss. She was surprised how comfortable she felt in his arms and more when he hugged her back. That was something Aiko hadn't expected but it made her let out her pent up emotions, especially the emotions she had now let out seeing her older brother. Aiko started to calm down as she felt Jaden rub her back and told her, "Don’t worry Aiko it is fine, let it out take your time." Aiko didn't nod but continued to let out out her tears and her heart broken voice knowing that once again she had lost an important person.

Yet as Jaden rubbed Aiko's back it reminded her about her brother and how he would hold her close and watch over her. Of course she was beginning to understand the reality even though she had denied it all these years. She had always felt responsible for his death knowing it was her own ice release that had killed him. Causing her to release even more tears as Jaden continued to hug her and rub her back.

In moments like this Aiko felt as if she had her brother back, but reality wasn't as kind since Aiko knew it wasn't Takuya but Jaden that was consoling her. She felt grateful to him but it amazed her a little as she began to fully calm down, and hear what he said next. "What is wrong if I may ask? Did something happen while you were in the ice or did I scare you when I got angry?" Aiko herself stopped crying momentarily to take in what he said and when she remembered about the cause of this chain reaction. She felt like crying even more but the water rubbed her neck lightly to get her attention. Aiko knew this wasn't like her to ponder on the past with her happy-go-lucky personality.

Aiko smiled lightly knowing and thinking that she could trust Jaden, even if he didn't know of her clan. Pushing away from the hug a little Aiko lifter her head until her eyes came in contact with Jaden's eyes. Smiling lightly the water came in front of the two, as if telling Jaden to let her go or it would freeze him. Aiko wiped her tears before taking a deep breath and looking at Jaden once again. " I... I trust you Jaden...I was scared; scared of when that water cyclone was beginning to form. A-and when I....when I released my..." Aiko trailed off and bit her lip before continuing. "When I released my kekkai genkai with the help of the water" Aiko motioned to the water that freely moved on its own and went behind her neck once more. It began rubbing Aiko’s neck like usual and telling her that it was with her knowing that it would protect her. Aiko took another deep breath before trying to smile lightly, " When that ice barrier protected me..I..I saw my older brother..the one who had protected me with his life...to the end. " Aiko explained to Jaden feeling fresh tears once again begin to fill her eyes but she tried her best to keep them in.

No doubt Jaden would ask more about what happened and about her clan, but before that she would have to have his support as well as his promise to keep her lineage a secret. She couldn't afford to be found out now knowing that whoever had killed her clan would probably be after her if they knew she was alive. Aiko waited for Jaden's response.

Jaden watched as Aiko pushed him away spreading them slightly apart so she could speak she smiled lightly at him. As she smiled the water from before would get in between them as it was doing before. Jaden was confused and not sure why she was having the water do this thing once again. Jaden then realized that it might be a defensive thing that she might not have a full control of yet. So as a safe measure Jaden placed a little more space in between them as Aiko would wipe away her tears and begin to speak. She would say that she trusted Jaden and that she was scared when he started to create that water cyclone that he used to protect himself. As she continued to speak she would stop in mid sentence almost worried to say what she was going to say. As she said some more she revealed what Jaden had thought about before that the ice was her Kekkei Genkai. Some reason she mentioned something about the water as well and that it helped her as if it was not her making the water, but an entity all on its own. Once she mentioned that the water would float away hiding behind her neck as it had been doing before. Aiko would take in another deep breath continuing to speak once again seeming to settle her nerves. She said that once the ice barrier protected her that she saw her brother; Jaden was a bit confused by this as she spoke as though she did not create the ice herself, but was its own entity as well. She mentioned that she saw her brother the one that had protected her with his life as though he died protecting her. Jaden could see that her eyes were watering once again and was about to start crying and he certainly didn’t want that.

Jaden would look at her deep in his eyes basically showing her that he could be trusted. “Don’t worry Aiko you are safe now and you can certainly trust me I am your teammate now we are basically family now.” Jaden would say to her in a reassuring tone. Jaden knew that there must be some kind reason why she was using an alias and that she was hiding her abilities. So simply he would look at her asking, “Okay I am sure you know that I have several questions, but I guess my first one will be the most basic. Why are you under an alias and hiding your abilities?” Jaden would pause for a moment thinking and realizing what he asked was kind of stupid since he knew about the raid that happened to the Yuki clan. Quickly before Aiko could let out a word he would quickly say, “Is this because of the raid that happened a couple of years ago on the Yuki clan?” Jaden would then wait to ask any more questions trying to not overwhelm her with questions. So Jaden would wait to see what her reply maybe.

Aiko looked up at Jaden as he reassured her that she could trust him, but she felt disappointed with something he said. Ignoring that feeling Aiko nodded to Jaden knowing he was trying to calm her down, and for that she was grateful. As Jaden told her that he did have questions and that she knew that Aiko nodded. She had been waiting for his questions, she hoped that he would understand why she was now in hiding and had her true abilities hidden.

Sighing Aiko began to fidget slightly as she was about to answer Jaden's reply but he spoke again, "Is this because of the raid that happened a couple of years ago on the Yuki clan?” This question alone pierced an arrow to her heart. The tears Aiko had been holding back finally came out with that question alone Aiko nodded as she placed a hand to her mouth muffling her cries. She hated crying a lot but this pain was one that she had suppressed for three years, three years trying to talk again and forget. The family she had now was one that never really talked about the past knowing how painful it was for her.

The water once again rubbed her neck lightly before Aiko calmed down lightly, as she removed her hand from her mouth"It is..but it wasn't a raid...*sniff*.. i-it was specifically t-targeted to my clan." she said between sobs the memories of that night filled her mind but she couldn't let that disturb her now. She had cried all she could but the fresh memories of the past were ones that played in her mind.

The memory that she tried to hold off was that of her brother's death the one that pained her the most. It was also her first kill as a shinobi but one that she hated the most, and it was also one that had caused her to hate fighting. This was and would always be the reaction Aiko would give anyone if they had talked about her past.

If it wasn't for the rubbing on her neck Aiko might have continued crying without realizing that Jaden was right in front of her. Aiko knew she hadn't finished replying to Jaden's question, " That night..m-my clan was targeted..and.. were all killed...t-there were o-only a f-few survivors..m-most are e-either living in other villages h-hiding o-or have already been found out..and..killed.." Aiko finished explaining and waited for Jaden's response to this information. Her tears were still falling but they were controlled as she wiped them and began to calm down knowing she had her brother near her, or rather his chakra.

Jaden saw that Aiko began to cry once he mentioned the raid on the Yuki clan showing him that he had hit a soft spot in Aiko’s emotions. She continued to cry for a moment as she covered her mouth trying to not let out her pain it brought her. After a few more moments she calmed down removing her hands from her mouth finally ready to speak. She would begin to tell him that it was because of the raid, but in a manner of fact it was not a raid at all. The once thought to be raid was actually a specifically designated attack on the Yuki clan. Jaden couldn’t believe it the raid was actually an attack upon the Yuki clan. It was a moment of silence as neither of them said anything, but with Aiko’s strength she continued on telling more revealing that the surviving members were placed into hiding and if not they were more than likely killed. Jaden nodded in understanding of this and took a moment to actually take it all in.

Jaden would look upon Aiko and say to her, “So this explains the alias and the hiding of your Kekkei Genkai.” Jaden would stand there and take it on a bit more before he would continue to speak. “I am guessing the Mizukage set this up for you and is now a village secret that you are still her.” Jaden would sigh after saying that for a moment realizing now knowing this he is more than likely going to need to keep this secret and protect her as much as he can. Jaden then nodded in understanding looking at Aiko once again saying to her, “Okay no worries I am her now. I will keep your secret and try to protect you just as the village has done for you.” Jaden would shake his head thinking to himself, ‘What have I gotten myself into; what a drag, but it is what’s right.’ Jaden looked at Aiko saying to her, “You need not to explain any more I understand.” Jaden would just then stand there and look around for a moment, “Okay why don’t we end this little tiff and start back up with our training.”

Jaden then stepped back and began to focus his chakra as he did before placing his arms down holding them just out in front of him. Then he began to hold his hands out so that they were parallel to the water and as he continued to focus his chakra the water would begin to spin slowly turning as it did before, but in an extremely smaller size. Jaden then focused even more and in mere moments the water would burst forth in a mini cyclone of water. With that Jaden began to understand the water and was learning quickly how to properly control it. Jaden then would pull a single hand away keeping his concentration the small cyclone of water would weave a little bit as he did, but with the concentration he was easily able to keep the cyclone from breaking up. Jaden the looked up at Aiko saying to her, ”See my control of the water is a lot better than before and I will no longer be a threat of harm towards you.” Jaden would do a slight smile as he continued to maintain the water cyclone making it move side to side following his hand as he moved it. Jaden the would close his hand making the cyclone just stop in its tracks having the water just land on the ground.

“Okay now that I got a basic understanding of nature transformation and shape transformation towards water.” Jaden would say, as he was ready to try to do a basic technique that is well known through out the village. Jaden would close his eyes and begin to focus using the surrounding water and mist in the area. Jaden would disperse his chakra out in all directions mixing it with the water and mist focusing it as well as he can. Jaden then moved one of his hands in front of his face pointing his index and middle finger straight up focusing all his chakra around him trying to shape it as well as change it into water using nature transformation. All the sudden as he began to focus even more the already existing mist would rise making the area around and in the pond begin to fade away into the mist. Jaden continued to focus and concentrate making the mist thicker, but not enough for him and Aiko’s view to be completely blurred. Jaden would then open his eyes and smile; he had done it, but not quiet to the level he wanted to do it. Jaden would then lower his hand ending what he had done making the mist fade back down to where it was before. Jaden would then say to Aiko, “Okay enough playing around we should train the nature transformation for water some more before we do anything else.” Jaden would look to Aiko waiting to see what she would say about what he was capable of doing and what she may want to do.

Aiko continued crying as Jaden nodded and stayed quiet as he took in this information. As the water continued to rub Aiko's neck she began to calm down as her tears began to stop and dry as the minutes passed. She still felt the fresh wound of her heart open because of the past but would she be able to live up to her clan's expectations? Aiko herself wasn't sure but the water that kept rubbing her neck was more than a reassurance for her. She needed to keep her brother's last words to make her clan proud.

Aiko's attention went to Jaden before she heard him speak. "So this explains the alias and the hiding of your Kekkei Genkai.” Aiko could only nod at his question knowing the last name she had wasn't exactly an alias but her adopted parent’s name. Aiko didn't want to talk about them at least not today as she paid attention to Jaden who continued to talk to her. When he mentioned the Mizukage Aiko lowered her gaze as she replied, "No, it is no secret that I am still here. The ones that know that I am still here are my...adopted family and a few that know of my past. O-Other than that no one knows of my... lineage.." she said as she was able to contain her tears from falling further. "The village only knows me as the Momichi families child, and not of my past, but now that you know this, Mizukage...s-she must know that you know of my lineage." Aiko finished as she heard Jaden continue.

When Jaden reassured her about keeping her secret it caused Aiko to smile lightly and nod being unsure of herself. 'Will he? Can I really rely on him, but onii-chan told me to be strong on my own. No, I trust him; he doesn't seem like a bad person. If he was the aura of the water would have been tainted dark.' Aiko thought as those same thoughts were interrupted when Jaden told her she didn't need to explain further and she mentally thanked him for that, knowing if it was someone else it might have ended differently.

Nodding Aiko replied, "that is fine by me, but.."Aiko trailed off as she wondered something as she extended her hand out as the water stopped rubbing her neck as it went to her hand. She didn't finish as she watched Jaden step back and it wasn't like last time when Aiko felt the dark aura of water emanating from him. This time the aura Aiko could see was calm and tranquil, it made Aiko smile and forget her worries. Aiko smiled and nodded when Jaden reassured her that this time he had control over his chakra as well as the small cyclone of water that followed his hand movements.

Aiko sweat dropped slightly when she heard that Jaden understood the nature of transformation and shape towards the water. To Aiko it was much more than that, if she was going to be using water just like everyone else in the village it was important for a person's emotions to mimic their actions. Just like before, when Jaden was angry his chakra and water manipulation mimicked his anger. Smiling lightly the water left Aiko's hand and once again went in front of Jaden to tell him something. "He says you need to focus more on your emotions." Aiko explained as the water went back to Aiko and then dropped to the ponds surface.

Aiko saw what Jaden was about to do it was a basic trick or rather technique that her brother had taught her. She hadn't used it since she was a little girl, but as she watched Jaden perform it she knew she still needed to practice it knowing that she needed to make the mist thicker, unlike before she had only made a thin layer of mist.

Aiko nodded to Jaden as she watched his display of what he was capable of. The water that was still in the ponds surface was waiting for something to happen. "I still have a lot to catch up and learn." She mumbled as she was kind of envious of Jaden's capabilities at creating a mist like this. Sighing Aiko closed her eyes remembering how she had trained in the water manipulation as a child. This particular memory didn't cause her any sadness as she remembered the valuable lesson she had learned by her brother. It was 'If you want to control the water peacefully and efficiently, you have to become one with the water both your mind and heart. That includes your emotions Aiko.' smiling lightly Aiko remembered her brother's words as she felt her chakra flow through her entire body as she heard the still pond around her and Jaden. Concentrating hard on the stillness of the water around her and her own feelings Aiko raised her hand as water began to slowly rise from the ponds surface. The water that protected Aiko watched from below the ponds surface to see what she would do.


Opening her eyes, Aiko's eyes seemed calm but clouded right now as the water that protected her rose behind her as if she was creating a thin water snake. "Nature transformation of water it is." Aiko said as she focused her chakra to drop the water down to the surface and disburse back into the pond it had come from. The water behind her though stayed the same as it watched what was going to happen in it's new form.

Jaden nodded to Aiko in understanding and decided that this would be enough training for now. With that Jaden looked at Akio and said to her, “Okay I think now would be a good time to rest and we will pick up where we left off tomorrow.” Jaden then turned away from Aiko starting to walk off listening to each of his steps rippling across the pond. Jaden knew he was not yet fully in control of the water element he needed to do quite a bit more training to fully master it, but he knew once he did he could control the waters as a god in some sense. With that thought in his head Jaden continued to walk along the water reaching its edge symbolizing the end of the days training.

As soon as Jaden spoke Aiko closed her eyes and couldn't concentrate. He wanted to stop, and Aiko nodded knowing today there was so much that had happened and she was indeed tired. Feeling weak a little she walked behind Jaden but she was only a few feet behind him. Once he had turned around Aiko stopped and turned around to look at the water that was going towards her. It seemed that it wanted her to wait, and this confused Aiko as she smiled warmly at the water who once again was trying to protect her.

Looking back in the direction Jaden had walked Aiko started walking and the water soon followed her. She had wanted to really train now, but she understood if Jaden wanted to stop, after all he had been nice enough to show her this forest, a place Aiko hadn't known existed at all. Smiling to herself Aiko wondered what tomorrow would have in store for her and her new team.